the neighbouring foundations match
perfectly.21
Repeat Steps 15-20 to make
another three units. To complete
the star block, lay them out in two rows
of two. Sew the units in each row
together, then sew the rows together.
Your block should measure 14^1 ⁄ 2 in
square from raw edge to raw edge.22
Remove the paper from the
wrong side of the block. The
edges are on the bias and will stretch
readily, so take care with this process.23
Repeat Steps 15-22 to make
another four star blocks.Assembly
24
Lay out the fi ve star blocks
on point. Add the 16 solid
red sashing strips to the layout
around the outer edges of the
blocks and between blocks. Then
add the cornerstones at the end
of each sashing strip. Fill in the
edges with the quarter-square
setting triangles.25
Sew the triangles, sashings,
blocks and cornerstones in
each diagonal row together. Press
seams towards the sashings. Then
sew the rows together, carefully
matching seams. Sew a half-square
triangle to each corner to complete
the centre of the quilt.26
If necessary, straighten the
edges of the quilt and ensure
that the corners are 90 degrees. The
setting triangles have been cut a little
over size, so if you wish, you can trimMICHELLE MARVIG
Why this particular craft? I learnt to make
patchwork quilts in order to sell the patchwork
fabric in a store that I opened with my mum,
in Mudgee, NSW, 24 years ago. I was hooked
from the first quilt.
Have you tried plenty of others? I did
dressmaking for the family, made soft toys
and knitted before I found patchwork. It has
been a long time since I made a garment!
If you weren’t doing this, what else would
occupy your time? My husband would describe
me as a foodie. I adore all the cooking shows,
have an extensive library of cookbooks and
love researching restaurants to try while on
tour with Travelrite. So, I guess I’d be doing
something in the food industry. I love exploring
new ingredients and flavour combinations and
seeing the pleasure it gives my family when
they consume the food I have cooked.
Who taught you your crafting skills? My mother
was a self-taught home dressmaker, and she
passed her sewing skills on to me. However, as
an adult, I went to a couple of classes locally to
start patchwork, to learn the basics. After that,
I’m self taught, using trial and error on new
techniques. My mind always has more new
projects designed than I can ever make in a
lifetime. After only quilting for 12 months,
I landed a job as a sample quiltmaker for a fabric
distributor. I could do this from home, with two
small children under foot. It forced me to work
with fabrics that I would not normally choose
to work with, and I started designing my own
original quilts. And then I reciprocated and
taught my mum how to do patchwork.What does this craft mean to you? verything. E
I have to sew every day; I can’t watch TV
without something in my hands; I have hand
piecing that travels in the car with me (if I’m
the passenger!). I have also met some of the
most wonderful people through this craft,
and I’m lucky to call them friends.
Is it hard to find time to do this or is it your
profession? It was never meant to be a profession
when I started, but I’m very glad that I can fill in
‘Quilter’ as a profession on off icial forms. I love my
job. I love playing with textiles; changing the look
of my home with diff erent quilts, cushions etc;
and I love teaching others the skills, so that they
too love to create patchwork quilts.
From where do you draw inspiration? I love
antique quilts, antique blocks and the history
of quiltmaking. I draw inspiration from these
sources, but also from photos, tiles, home decor
and fabrics. Sometimes, quilts just evolve. For
one recent quilt, I cut the chevrons for a diff erent
pattern but started playing with the cut pieces
on my design wall, and a new design emerged.
The new medallion that I am piecing is simply
being built one border at a time. I recently wrote
the Quilt Workshop for Beginners book. The
featured quilt was designed around the supplied
fabrics and the set of techniques to be included.
Why this skill – and this style? oundation F
piecing allows for odd shapes to be produced
easily, without the aid of templates. I love the
endless possibilities that it off ers.
What are your favourite materials to work with?
I always work with cotton fabrics, but don’t have
a favourite designer or brand. I’m drawn to
diff erent fabrics for diff erent reasons. Since
moving house five years ago, I’m working with
more modern fabrics, as I look at redecorating my
home. But, any fabric can be inspiration for a quilt.
I once bought five metres of an Alexander Henry
geisha print for a backing, but it ended up in the
front of the quilt instead.
Do you ever see yourself stopping or
diversifying? No, I could not stop sewing.
I would be so grumpy! However, I have had
to teach myself to hand piece quilts recently,
because I teach projects on my Quilters
Companion/Travelrite patchwork tours overseas,
and, unsurprisingly, a sewing machine does notfit in my luggage allowance! And, much to my
delight, I find I really enjoy hand piecing.
Where do you live and work? My studio is the
second living area in my house and cannot be
shut off , due to the open plan nature of the house.
So every visitor to my house gets to see my
creative mess. My Brother NV3000 sits on an Ikea
table that joins the pigeon-holes holding some of
my fabric. I have a separate cutting table (as the
family got sick of moving my projects off the
island in the kitchen) and a design wall. The wood
fire is in this room, with a lounge in front of it for
hand stitching. I also have a study, where I work
on my computer, house my library of books and
store some of the completed quilts.
Do you teach your skills to others? eaching T
is a real joy, and I teach at My Sewing Supplies,
The Stitchers Cupboard and Penrith Patchwork
on a regular basis. But I also travel far and wide
to teach workshops during the year.
What’s your family structure? ve been married I’
for 28 years to a wonderful man, Peter, who not
only cooks, but long-arm quilts my designs. We
have two children, Emma and Nathan. While I have
three grand ‘fur’ kids, I will be a real grandmother
for the first time this year, and am so excited! My
husband and I live on couple of acres, where we
are trying to grow as much of our own food as
we can. We have chickens, a few sheep, an
orchard and vegie patch. I grew up in country
NSW, and I love living in a rural area again.
How would you describe your style? What
makes it unique? I am a passionate machine
piecer. I strive to find diff erent ways to make
piecing techniques easier, and to teach this to
my students. I don’t have a ‘style’, as such. I think
it’s because I started making sample quilts so
early in my quiltmaking journey. If pushed, I’d
say I am traditional, with a twist.
Any embarrassing botch-ups along the way?
Not really. I have several unpickers, and they get
used all the time. A mistake might lead to new
discoveries. I called them PDMs – Personal
Design Modifications.
What is your advice for beginners? Do take
a class with a good teacher to learn the basics
of quiltmaking. A good grounding in correct
techniques will give you the knowledge to
explore on your own.Gett ing to know ...